Walk/hike mode disadvantages?

With walk mode you can forget to take it out of walk mode and then brag to your friends about how you just skied that in walk mode. “like , can you believe I just skied that in walk mode bro?

What boots are they?

I ski Head kore 1's that have a walk mode and tech inserts and they are some of the most bomber boots I have ever used, hit cliffs, park, charged mixed snow etc. and never once had the walk mode pop out. That being said ik some people have had issues with walk modes on here.

I would say generally speaking ur good but also depends somewhat on what boot it is.

Purely anecdotal but many of my friends who daily drive boots with walk mode and ski hard have all had them blow out or stop locking at some point in the season. These were all from different brands as well, Lange, k2, atomic etc. We do all work at the hill in lifts or patrol tho so getting 100days a year in puts more strain than anything else . I personally have two pairs of boots for resort and touring. If you don’t plan on touring at all I’d look at some other boots, but at the same time having a boot that fits right should always win over anything else.

Main question - do you need a boot with a walk mode & tech inserts for the skiing you will do? If not, don't get a boot with those features. They are just extra things you don't need but will be paying for.

Re: durability - I have yet to see the current iteration of the Atomic Free/Lock (our clever little name for a ski/walk mode) break that also didn't rip the cuff off the boot. The force it will take to break one of those is absolutely catastrophic and will be the least of your worries in that situation. They also don't accidentally open as long as you properly close it. The more you flex forward/backward, the more it engages with the pin on the shell. The most common way the Free/Lock "fails" is when the attachment screws come loose, then if can fall off. But as with all screwed hardware, you just need to regularly check them and keep them properly torqued.

The Hawx Ultra XTD is daily driver of Chris Benchetler, McNutt, Sage, Aymar Navarro and too many other athletes for it to not be durable enough for all types of skiing. With that said, these guys are also touring a lot on that boot, which is why they need the walk mode function. If you don't need it, don't pay for it.

Also, if this is the boot you tried on and you don't need the walk mode, just get the regular Hawx Ultra. It has the same fit, same forward lean, same stance, same plastic, same liner build, etc. just without the touring bits.

with a cabrio boot like FT/K2 , some dalbellos , roxa you can just loosen up the cables and it's just as easy to walk in (if not better) as the best walk mode non-cabrio boot out there.

I’ve used boots with walk/ hike mode for the last 3 seasons skied them on everything big cliffs to huge park jumps and have never had an issue with any of it. Though my friend had the same boot and everytime he tried to butter the back latch would pop out. I don’t butter that much but when I do it still stays in well for me, it might be because I’m pretty light weight but 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️.

snowpigwith a cabrio boot like FT/K2 , some dalbellos , roxa you can just loosen up the cables and it's just as easy to walk in (if not better) as the best walk mode non-cabrio boot out there.

majority of advantage to walk mode comes from rear flexion not forward flexion. So no, that is not true at all.

I have a set of full tilts with walk mode on them and I've never had an issue. The latch on them is very primitive compared to most other walk mode systems though so that could be a factor.

I’ve noticed that a boot without walk mode is stiffer than a boot with walk mode. Replaceable soles are nice if you’re using your boots for multiple seasons

Shifty_GodI’ve used boots with walk/ hike mode for the last 3 seasons skied them on everything big cliffs to huge park jumps and have never had an issue with any of it. Though my friend had the same boot and everytime he tried to butter the back latch would pop out. I don’t butter that much but when I do it still stays in well for me, it might be because I’m pretty light weight but 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️.

Thanks for the reply, this makes me feel better!

profa_212majority of advantage to walk mode comes from rear flexion not forward flexion. So no, that is not true at all.

You really need and want both. Forward ROM helps you on steeper terrain and rearward ROM helps you on flatter terrain or when walking.


When you're able to maximize both and balance both, then your boot more accurately resembles your own ankle ROM, which is the ultimate goal.

onenerdykidMain question - do you need a boot with a walk mode & tech inserts for the skiing you will do? If not, don't get a boot with those features. They are just extra things you don't need but will be paying for.

Re: durability - I have yet to see the current iteration of the Atomic Free/Lock (our clever little name for a ski/walk mode) break that also didn't rip the cuff off the boot. The force it will take to break one of those is absolutely catastrophic and will be the least of your worries in that situation. They also don't accidentally open as long as you properly close it. The more you flex forward/backward, the more it engages with the pin on the shell. The most common way the Free/Lock "fails" is when the attachment screws come loose, then if can fall off. But as with all screwed hardware, you just need to regularly check them and keep them properly torqued.

The Hawx Ultra XTD is daily driver of Chris Benchetler, McNutt, Sage, Aymar Navarro and too many other athletes for it to not be durable enough for all types of skiing. With that said, these guys are also touring a lot on that boot, which is why they need the walk mode function. If you don't need it, don't pay for it.

Also, if this is the boot you tried on and you don't need the walk mode, just get the regular Hawx Ultra. It has the same fit, same forward lean, same stance, same plastic, same liner build, etc. just without the touring bits.

Thanks for the insight, much appreciated.